Provincial Minister Ramesh Singh Arora sworn in as Chairman
Ramesh Singh Arora reaffirms commitment to effective representation and empowerment of minority cocommunities
By Our Correspondent
LAHORE: The oath-taking ceremony of the newly established Minority Advisory Council Punjab (MACP) was held in the Committee Room of the New Ministers’ Block. The event marked a significant step by the Government of Punjab towards ensuring representation, protection, and empowerment of minority communities. The ceremony was attended by representatives of Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, and other minority communities, along with government officials and other dignitaries.
On this occasion, Ramesh Singh Arora took oath as the Chairman of MACP. Kamran Masih Bhatti was sworn in as Vice Chairman, while Aqib Alam assumed the role of Convenor. The Council was constituted with the approval of the Chief Minister of Punjab and officially notified by the Department of Human Rights and Minority Affairs. The council will serve a term of three years, although the government reserves the right to dissolve it at any time. The oath was administered by Secretary Human Rights and Minority Affairs, Rai Ali Bahadur Qazi.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman Ramesh Singh Arora said it was an honor to lead such an important council. He reaffirmed his commitment to work in close collaboration with the Government of Punjab to promote interfaith harmony, protect the rights of minority communities, and enhance their socio-economic and political opportunities. He vowed that the Council will address issues faced by religious minorities effectively through its platform. While commenting on false accusations made by the Indian government, he emphasized that all citizens living in Pakistan are part of one nation, unlike the divided landscape in India. He warned that any conspiracy by India would be strongly countered. He also delivered good news to the Sikh community, confirming that there are no restrictions on their travel to Pakistan, with the recent Baisakhi celebrations serving as a prime example.
The Council’s key responsibilities include advising the government on minority-related issues, promoting interfaith harmony and tolerance, safeguarding fundamental human rights and freedoms of minorities, supporting government development initiatives for the welfare of minority communities, and improving access to education, employment, and political participation. The Council will operate without remuneration, focusing solely on public service and promoting equality. All members pledged to actively work for the protection of minority rights and to fulfill their duties with sincerity under the leadership of the Chief Minister of Punjab. At the conclusion of the ceremony, a special prayer was offered for the late Pope Francis.
Council members include:
Suhail Akram, Shahid Javed Rehmat, Karamat Masih, Nadeem Masih, Ashiq Masih, Aneel Parvez, Suhail Anwar, Shakeel Chaman, Saleem Shakir, Waseem Raja, Mushtaq Yaqoob Sandhu, Shehzad Arif, Mushtaq Gul, Dr. Shahid Shoukat, Inder Yaas Masih, Waseem Masih, Adnan Shehzad, Sumbal Munir, Priyanka, Surkha Shakir, Zobia Nazir, Saneen, Kanji Ram, Sajan Bhatia, Ratan Lal, Lala Akmal Bheel, Sardar Jaskaran Singh, Sardar Surjeet Singh, Sardar Palwinder Singh, Sardar Dilawar Singh, Mufti Syed Ashiq Hussain, and Maulana Shakeel ur Rehman Nasir.
